A three-year-old boy watched on in horror as his pet puppy was "mauled" to death by a German Shepherd on the doorstep of his home.

Jade Penfold's son Charlie and her partner had been walking Roxy, a four-month-old Corkie , outside their house in the Cockpit, Marden.

The mother-of-two's heart broke when she received a phone call to say her beloved puppy, a 24th birthday present, had been killed.

Police are now trying to track down the owner of the German Shepherd following Roxy's tragic death.

She said: "It happened right near our front door and there is no other way to say it than it mauled her to death.

"My partner rushed her to the vet where they said she was dead. It was a massive shock.

"I rang the police but they said nothing could be done because a person wasn't bitten or injured. A child or adult shouldn't have to be harmed to have a dog put down. This dog shook Roxy until she was dead, it was obviously trained."

Jade and Charlie took Roxy to the Pear Orchard in Marden where she was buried beneath a tree.

However, her disappointment at the police's response to the attack on her pet has prompted her to think about starting a petition calling for dogs to be taken away if they kill another animal.

She added: "My three-year-old son witnessed it and now he is scared of dogs because he thinks they are going to bite him.

"It could have been Charlie's arm. I have two children and I don't want them to have to be bitten or killed by a dog for it to be put down. This dog is dangerous.

"I am determined that the law needs to be changed."

A spokesman for Kent Police said: "Officers are conducting initial enquiries following a report that a small dog died after being attacked by a black long-coated German Shepherd in Marden.

"The incident is reported to have taken place at 2.20pm on Friday, February 22. The German Shepherd, which was wearing a black collar, left the scene and officers are making inquiries to find the dog and its owner.

"Anyone with information is asked to call Kent Police on 01622 604100 quoting 22-0882."